In order to track industry 4.0 status, readiness models can be used to analyze the state of indus-try 4.0 technologies’ implementation allowing the quantification and qualification of its readiness level, focusing on different dimensions. To this matter, there are companies unable to relate the industry 4.0 with their business models, leading to a lack of a correct self-assess in order to understand the reached readiness level. Not all companies are adopting these new technologies with the same ease and with the same pace. Into this purpose, it is important to understand how to assess the industry 4.0’ readiness so far and what are the barriers on the adoption of these enabling technologies by the industry. This paper aims to assess the industry 4.0’ readiness level of companies, understand the perception of companies due to the barriers on the adoption of industry 4.0 enabling technologies and bring new barriers for discussion on academic community. To this end, empirical data was collected on a sample of 15 companies belonging to an important industrial cluster in Portugal.
PurposeThis study aims to explore how certain adoption barriers of additive manufacturing (AM) technology may lead to supply chain (SC) vulnerabilities, which in turn would deteriorate supply chain resilience (SCR).Design/methodology/approachA case study of a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that uses AM technology to directly produce end-use metal parts for different industries was performed. Primary data were collected using the in-depth interview method, which was complemented by secondary data from internal and publicly available sources. The findings were compared with the existing literature to triangulate the results.FindingsThe findings indicate that certain AM adoption barriers make the SC vulnerable to reliance on specialty sources, supplier capacity, production capacity, utilization of restricted materials, importance of product purity, raw material availability, unpredictability in customer demand, reliability of equipment, unforeseen technology failures, reliance on information flow, industrial espionage, and utilities availability.Research limitations/implicationsThe SCR outcomes of the identified SC vulnerabilities and their interrelated AM adoption barriers are proposed in this study.Practical implicationsDrawing on the case study findings and the existing literature, several practices are put forward in a framework that supply chain management (SCM) may use to mitigate the identified SC vulnerabilities caused by the AM adoption barriers.Originality/valueThis is the first study to empirically examine and identify the SC vulnerabilities that are caused by the adoption barriers of AM technology.
PurposeThis paper aims to identify the impacts of wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology on the green supply chain management (GSCM) performance. Also, it intends to identify the most essential WAAM capabilities.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory case study related to a metallurgical company using WAAM technology to repair metallic components was developed. A research framework to identify WAAM production capabilities and the different GSCM performance criteria was proposed based on the current state of the art. Primary qualitative data provided evidence for developing seven propositions relating WAAM capabilities to GSCM performance.FindingsThe paper provides empirical evidence relating to how WAAM production capabilities impact the different performance criteria of the GSCM performance. The results show that “relative advantage” and “supply-side benefits” are critical capabilities developed through WAAM. Furthermore, most of the capabilities regarding “relative advantage” and “supply-side benefits” promote a higher GSCM performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was carried out using a single case study research design and using qualitative data. Thus, future works are encouraged to test the propositions empirically using quantitative methodologies.Practical implicationsThe case study findings support that most WAAM production capabilities promote a higher GSCM performance. Managers could use this research to understand the capabilities developed by this fusion-based additive manufacturing (AM), become aware of the implications of new technology adoption on the supply chain environmental externalities, and develop new business models based on the WAAM capabilities.Originality/valueThis research contributes to expanding the state-of-the art related to WAAM technology by evidencing the relationship between adopting this fusion-based AM technology and green supply chain practices. Also, it provides a set of seven propositions that could be used to theorise the impacts of WAAM adoption on the GSCM performance.
Green and lean paradigms have been adopted in a supply chain management context, but nearly always separately and with little understanding of their influence on supply chain performance and sustainable business development. This paper proposes a theoretical framework about the influence of green and lean practices on sustainable business development in a supply chain context. Green and lean upstream supply chain practices, supply chain attributes and a performance measurement system, based on the balanced scorecard, are suggested. An exploratory case study was conducted at a Portuguese automotive supply chain to test qualitatively the validity of the proposed theoretical framework.
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